State Rep. Daniel Winslow collects nearly 25,000 signatures to get on GOP ballot

Republican State Rep. Daniel Winslow has gathered nearly 25,000 signatures, according to his campaign, which should be enough to earn him a place on the ballot.

Winslow is the first GOP candidate to announce publicly that he believes he has gathered enough signatures to meet the threshold of 10,000 signatures from Republican or unenrolled voters.

Winslow plans to thank supporters and volunteers at an event in Boston Monday evening.

“I want to thank every volunteer and my dynamic signature drive team for their effort, hard work and dedication - far surpassing not only the required 10,000 signatures but my expectations,” Winslow said in a statement.

Former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan’s spokeswoman said last week that she believed it “will be tough” for Sullivan to meet the threshold. Sullivan is the only Republican candidate not to use paid signature gatherers. He has said if he cannot gather enough signatures using volunteers, he will not run.

Private equity investor and former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez released a video last week showing him talking to voters as he gathered signatures. He has not yet announced his numbers.

On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Edward Markey’s spokeswoman said last week that Markey had already gathered 20,000 signatures from Democratic or unenrolled voters – likely enough to get on the ballot – but will continue collecting signatures.

Asked about his signature gathering at an event last week, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch said he did not know what his numbers were at but they were “good.” “We’re going to use every day,” Lynch said. “We’re going to try to get as many signatures as we can, we don’t want to stop at 10,000. We think it’s not just a task to get us on the ballot, it’s a contact, a personal contact you have with the voters.”

Both Lynch and Markey have existing political organizations that the Republican candidates do not have, and there are more Democrats in Massachusetts than Republicans.

Candidates have until Feb. 27 to file their signatures with the local election commission or board of registrars. They must turn in nomination papers with the certified signatures to the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s office by March 6.

The primary election will be held April 30 with the general election June 25.